ALBANY – Former Gov. George Pataki was the subject of 597 threats during his 12 years in office, 146 of which were categorized as “high risk” because they involved threats of death or bodily harm, according to a state Ethics Commission opinion.

But despite the number of threats, only seven arrests were made as a result of them during the governor’s three terms, according to the opinion.

The opinion was solicited by aides to Pataki three days before he left office. It was made public yesterday, four days after The Post reported that Gov. Spitzer agreed to a last-minute request by the Pataki to provide him with a full-time security escort that could cost taxpayers $20,000 or more a week.

The Ethics Commission said it approved of the security detail “for a 30-day period” beginning Jan. 1 based on information provided by the State Police.